Sheikha Bodour graces opening of Sharjah entrepreneurship fest

In the esteemed presence of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), the 8th annual edition of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 commenced on Saturday (February 1), in the presence of leading global voices, business luminaries and change-makers.

Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation; Princess Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud, Secretary General and member of the Board of Trustees at Alwaleed Philanthropies; and Alia Bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship were amongst the influential figures who attended the opening ceremony of the 2-day festival, which is taking place at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP).

Marking a major milestone in accessibility technology, “Eshara”, the world’s first of its kind AI-generated Arabic sign language translation system created by Sheraa Startup Dojo+ program winners, was unveiled and used throughout the opening ceremony.

Driving social change through art & philanthropy

Part of the opening proceedings was a discussion titled “Tackling Social Challenges and Bridging Cultures through Art & Philanthropy”, led by Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi and Princess Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud.

“At the intersection of art and philanthropy lies humanity — it is the root of everything we do”, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi stated, adding the importance of connecting with “workers, service providers, and everyday individuals” who form society’s foundation. The visionary who has helmed the Sharjah Biennial for 22 years said humanity was at the core of the event’s global success. “We have earned the trust of artists because we work together as equals, with mutual respect.”

She also mentioned the announcement of the Sharjah Creative Quarter following an Emiree decree by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which has been founded on humanistic values and designed “for future generations to thrive”.

Princess Lamia Al Saud shared her insights on leveraging the universal language and appeal of art as a “diplomatic tool to bridge cultural divides and foster spaces for dialogue and connection”. She also highlighted her entity’s efforts to empower communities in 190 countries around the world through education and by creating entrepreneurial opportunities.

“We have provided 60 physically challenged ‘captains’ specially equipped Careem taxis, and uplifted textile artisans in Afghanistan who will have their line featured in Harrods soon.”

Minister shares plans for next generation of founders

Outlining the Ministry’s efforts to support SMEs and the UAE’s plans for the next generation, Alia Bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, delivered a keynote during the ceremony, stating: “To support youth and emerging talent, we recently joined 16 government entities to introduce RIYADA – our ecosystem brand designed to increase the success rate of young entrepreneurs from 30% to 50% by 2031. The fund has allocated Dhs300 million in incentives to encourage graduates to pursue entrepreneurship. We also launched the 2nd edition of ‘The Future 100’ programme last year to identify and accelerate all SMEs, alongside ‘The Future 50’ programme to provide targeted support to Emirati-owned SMEs.”

AlMazrouei also highlighted that targeted federal policies have prioritised economic diversification. “We have proven our economy is resilient and focused on SMEs, which currently represent 95% of all companies in the UAE, employ nearly 86% of the private sector workforce, and contribute as much as 63.5% to the non-oil GDP.”

Sharjah: The 4th most powerful ecosystem in GCC

Najla Al Midfa, Vice-Chairperson of Sheraa said: “Nine years ago, we could not have foreseen the extraordinary milestones the Sheraa team would achieve: incubating over 200 startups that have collectively raised more than a billion dirhams in capital. Helping Sharjah’s startup ecosystem climb the ranks to become the 4th best in the GCC. Building this annual festival, a global gathering of changemakers that has attracted over 40,000 attendees from around the world since inception. But, having worked with so many entrepreneurs, I have also learnt that success comes in different forms. It goes beyond numbers, manifesting in unexpected and incredibly profound ways.”